The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-22
BEGINNING TO SPREAD OUT
Changes Likely To Be Brought About in
the City's Trade CONFORMATION.
Rapid Growth of Population and Business
Will SooE Make Necessary the Occupation
IF New Streets By Merchants.

The prospective re-establishment of the Board
of Trade in its old quarters has given rise to a
considerable amount of figuring on the probable
results on real estate, the more as it comes at
time when natural gas is regarded as GER
tainty achieved. The prevailing sentiment is
that season Of rapid growth in population is to
be had in the immediate future; that a growth
of population necessarily means growth of bus
mess, and that growth of business with equal
necessity implies spreading Of the business re-
gion. The removal of the Board of Trade is
therefore considered sort of pioneer advance
into new territory from which there will be no
backward STEP
Said a business man. yesterday: AZ look for
very material change In the business conig-
uraton of Indianapolis within the next year.
The new Union Depot will act as barrier to
keep business north of the tracks, even more
than the tracks did heretofore. In fact, by oc-
cupying considerable space which was former
iy taken up by business houses, it must push
business to the north. The new buildings in
process of erection will probably accommodate
this but the new buildings will substantially fill
mp the vacant space on Meridian Illinois and
the cross streets. When new business estab-
lishments come, whore they to be ocatedg
l see no room except to the east and west. The
space to the east is already occupied by build
ings suitable for business of certain classes,
which are too valuable to be torn away at pres
houses or buildings suitable for the
best class of retail trade. l look, therefore,
TO an extension westward, and, if there shall be
such a growth of the city as | antcipate, you
may look for large business houses on Tennessee
street at no very distant day. The Catholic
Church property may appear something of an
impediment to the growth but think it is in
appearance only. In any large city you will
hnd church properties right In the heart of the
business region: Look at Trinity Church in
New York, almost in Wall street, and there are
other churches that do not owe their locations to
their ancient founding. There is church on
Third avenue, in New York, up about Four
teenth street, that abuts the adjoining buildings
just as if 1t were a business block. the ground
there is too valuable to waste in church ards"
Another gentleman observed There is anoth-
er change that expect to see at no very distant
day, and that is the occupation os Meridian
street from Washington to the tracks by retail
houses. indianapolis is getting too Dig to have
her retail business done one street. and it has
got to somewhere The courthouse and the
Capitol mark its bounds on Washington street.
The Circle cuts it off on Meridian at the north.
1t will never go above Ohio on Illinois and Penn
sylvania account of the avenues 1t must
therefore go south, and it cannot 60 there with
out crowdine out something else. The
retail houses will go to the best territory.
They can pay larger rentals than Wholesale
houses and therefore they will crowd the whole
sale houses out of the best territory, which,
without question, is Meridian street The first
half square south of Washington is pretty we'll
taken up by the retail trade now, and there
TWO three establishments still lower. The
rapdty with which the whole street is taken
will depend chiefly on how fast the city grows"
'And whore will the Wholesale houses gol'
East and west between Washington street
and the tracks. There is other place for
them TO go to. and for one or two blocks either
way the locations all that cou Id be asked
for joboing purposes